As we work to bring even more value to our audience, we’ve made important changes for those who receive Ad Age with our compliments. As of November 15, 2016 we will no longer be offering full digital access to AdAge.com. However, we will continue to send you our industry-leading print issues focused on providing you with what you need to know to succeed.

If you’d like to continue your unlimited access to AdAge.com, we invite you to become a paid subscriber. Get the news, insights and tools that help you stay on top of what’s next.

FOR THE RECORD

Published on September 22, 1997.

Jenny Craig touts

its non-Rx program

Jenny Craig Inc. launched print ads headlined "Jenny Craig: Available without a prescription" in USA Today and local papers last week after Food & Drug Administration concerns prompted Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories to pull two popular prescription weight loss drugs marketed under the Redux and Pondimin names. Suissa Miller, Los Angeles, created the ads for Jenny Craig, which last month halted its own program that included a prescription component. The growing use of the drugs had hurt Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers.

Sara Lee restructuring

to benefit ad spending

Sara Lee Corp. revealed a $1.6 billion restructuring focused in its initial phase on selling an unspecified number of its 13 U.S. textile plants. Sara Lee said the program will allow it to focus "on business-building and marketing leading brands." President Steve McMillan said some of the savings, estimated to be $25 million to $50 million in fiscal 1998 and $100 million to $125 million in the year 2000, will be reinvested in advertising.

ARF backs out on drive

for TV ratings project

The Advertising Research Foundation told a "summit" meeting it had called that its lawyers had decided ARF cannot be involved in organizing a joint industry committee to develop a TV audience measurement system for the future. The American Association of Advertising Agencies has held a number of meetings about TV measurement issues to be addressed by a joint industry committee, and it was hoped the ARF summit would further focus on this area. Responding to ARF's surprise announcement, one agency research executive who attended the summit said: "ARF's continued participation in this process is not necessarily relevant. The point is that, for the first time, buyers and sellers are getting together to discuss what we need from a TV audience measurement moving forward."

AT&T requests NARB

to assess Net ad claim

AT&T Corp., defending its Internet service advertising, asked the National Advertising Review Board to examine its "most powerful network in the world" claim. The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier asked AT&T to modify the ad line on grounds that the general public does not understand the technical workings of the Internet. NAD recommended that AT&T clarify the statement to refer to telecommunication services and not an Internet network. McCann-Erickson Worldwide, New York, created the advertising.

The Federal Communications Commission, as expected following an appellate court ruling, gave approval for TV and radio stations in nine Western states to start running gambling ads. An official of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling said the group hoped that the ads would draw a major backlash.

Claiborne's Curve

goes to Avrett

Liz Claiborne Corp. assigned the $2 million-plus account for Curve perfumes to Avrett, Free & Ginsberg, New York. Avrett will break a new print campaign early next year for the perfumes aimed at male and female Gen Xers. Arnold Communications, Boston, handled the launch a year ago.

Sarabeth's taps Dweck

to help in expansion

Sarabeth's, a local New York restaurant operator and wholesale baker with a line of fancy preserves, tapped Dweck & Campbell and sweetened its spending to more than $1 million to expand the reach of its brand. Dick Mendelsohn Inc. had handled Sarabeth's for some 15 years.

Republic to phase out

Value Rent-A-Car

Republic Industries will phase out Value Rent-A-Car and convert the 45 Value sites to Alamo Rent A*Car. Gray Kirk/VanSant, Baltimore, handles Value. Hal Riney & Partners, San Francisco, handles creative for Alamo, which also has its own in-house ad staff.

Obituaries

Walter A. Spiro, 74, chairman of Earle Palmer Brown, Philadelphia, died Sept. 16 in his home. In 1968, Mr. Spiro became president of Lavenson Bureau of Advertising and acquired the agency, renaming it Spiro & Associates. Following a merger with EPB, Mr. Spiro became chairman of Earle Palmer Brown & Spiro.

Timothy Joyce, 63, a pioneer in research, died Sept. 13 in Manhattan after a long illness. Mr. Joyce launched Mediamark Research Inc. in the U.S. in 1979.

Ronald Rosenfeld, 65, a founder of Rosenfeld, Sirowitz & Humphrey, died Sept. 12 in New York. Mr. Rosenfeld remained with the agency, renamed Rosenfeld, Sirowitz, Humphrey & Strauss, until his retirement in 1991.